Fluency

Stuttering can lead kids to avoid situations and might even keep them from pursuing their dreams. Frank Dimitri, who is now 74, has always wanted to be a singer, but lacked confidence to sing throughout his life because of he stutters. He recently found the courage to get on the stage of America's Got Talent. When he was finished singing Frank Sinatra's "I've got the world on a string.", he got a standing ovation. Stuttering, also referred to as stammering or disfluent speech, is a fluency disorder. To the point, stuttering is any interruption in the flow of speech. It [...]

Parker Mantell, who stutters, delivered an inspiring commencement speech in front of 17,000 of his fellow graduates at Indiana University. His message was simple, "Far too often, society has instilled and reinforced the idea that those of us with disabilities are to remain disabled and perhaps even incapable." He added, "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Beautiful words from a man who has challenges with fluency. Mantell was no ordinary student. He interned for Congressman Eric Cantor, Senator Marco Rubio and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. During these internships, he did not avoid speaking roles, he embraced them. [...]